Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I Feel Like Buffy

I feel like Buffy The Vampire Slayer this morning. My dental appointment was set for 8 AM, so I got to the waiting room early to try to settle down. This was my third visit to the Faculty Dental Practice office in the past two weeks. Having two good experiences under my hat definitely helped. While waiting for the first appointment, I felt like I was strapped to the tracks in the path of an oncoming train. Today, I saw the train coming, but knew it would stop in time.

Turns out one psych appointment wasn't quite enough to settle me down. The assistant took my pulse before the Dr started and it was revved up to 115. The Dr made sure that I'd tell him if I needed him to stop at any point. How nice is that, to feel like you have some sort of control? The exam lasted a full hour, and at the end I can say, there was no pain at all, and I have no additional work needed. Woot! So, I'm good for another six months, and hopefully by then I'll have a better handle on the meditation and can keep my pulse rate in control. I have another seven psych appointments planned to polish up my relaxation skill set.

I didn't slay the demon today, but I got a chain around its neck, wrestled it to the floor and kicked its ass. Next time, maybe I can stick a stake in its heart, Buffy-style. Thank you, everyone, who posted or wrote emails yesterday. Your encouragement and kind words mean so much to me.

copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Monday, February 22, 2010

Time to... "Ohm"... Relax

I have been stressed out beyond what I can normally tolerate... I'm talking sweaty, nauseated, sleepless-for-a-week stressed out. My darling Marble Man has mentioned for a couple of years that I should see a dentist and get checked out. I've managed to put it off, being quite adept at changing the subject. That is, until a couple of months ago.

One day, last December, I received an email from my Dear Heart stating that he'd called UNC's dental faculty practice and found a dentist who specializes in treating patients with dental phobias. He'd gone ahead and made an appointment for me for early January. My stomach sank right before it tied itself tightly into a Gordian knot. It was here... no way to escape without disappointing my Guy.

When my appointment came around, I breathed a sigh of relief because Marble Man came down with the flu and was too sick to go with me (he'd promised, faithfully). I called to reschedule for early February, feeling a HUGE relief that I could put this impending doom in the back of my mind again.

This deep-seated panicky fear began in childhood with a dentist who had no business treating children. He had been a field surgeon in WW2 and believed Novocaine was for pussies. He thought it was funny to put a child in the chair and leave them alone for many long, tick-tocky minutes. For our viewing pleasure, on the opposite wall hung a lithograph depicting a leering, warty barber reaching into the mouth of a writhing man with a pair of pliers. In the background we could hear drills, gurgling, and smell antiseptic chemical odors.

Once a year, our family would pile into the car for the 40 minute drive to the dentist's office and a fun-filled morning of back-to-back appointments. Sometimes the appointments were reserved just for me - I had several sessions for extractions and the lovely side effect of ether-induced puking. I spent those 40 travel minutes in a full-out cold sweat. Unfortunately, I didn't realize my younger brother was having similar reactions. If I'd known, we could have consoled each other.

Throughout the years, there have been other dentists. Seemingly kindly men, they didn't believe me when I told them I could still feel pain, even through Novocaine. Drills ablazin', they'd tell me I was a hysteric, I should just suck it up, that it didn't hurt. But it did.

Fast-forward to last week. I had my first check up in 14 years with a compassionate dentist who spent the whole hour taking history and chatting me up. After checking my pulse and finding it jacked way up, he merely took a visual look around, refraining from using sharp and pointy things. He said we'd go as slowly as I need to go, and suggested I see a psychologist to practice some relaxation techniques to try to learn self-hypnosis.

I had my first psych appointment on Thursday, and I think it will help a lot. We spent an hour working on biofeedback, deep relaxation, and imagery. I'm practicing a couple of times a day with the hope that I've learned enough to get me through tomorrow morning's dental appointment for the second part of my initial check up. This time there's no avoiding the instruments. I take very good care of myself, because my grand evil plan was to never sit in a dentist's chair again for the remainder of my life. So, hopefully, tomorrow I'll hear that I don't need too much work done. Crossing fingers, closing eyes, and deep breathing here... "Ohm"

copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

One World One Heart Winners

My studio elves have made the random drawings for my giveaway prizes and we have some winners to announce:

Astrid Maclean of Astrid's Artistic Efforts
Robin of Around the Island
Betty Boogie

You three have each won a pair of these earrings:



Sharon of Shardon Exclusives has won this pair of earrings:



Nicole Campanella of Beadwright is the winner of this pair of earrings:



Turn Left At The Pigs
won this pair of earrings:



Thanks to everyone who participated in this event, and for all of you who left comments for me. I look forward to visiting your blogs in the near future to see what you all are up to.


copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

"Destashing" My Studio

The past several days were devoted to inventory for income tax preparation. Yup... it's that time again... counting beads, buttons, and every li'l thang sitting in boxes, drawers, and on shelves. God, I really hate this time of year.



The good thing about it is: I resent counting this stuff so much that I'd rather put some of the older supplies up for sale than face counting them again next year. I aired out my Etsy bead shop, swept out the virtual dust, and listed some wonderful stuff for anyone who wants it.



Before I injured my hand, I created wearable art clothing: blouses, jackets, and coats, especially. No matter where I traveled, I stopped in fabric stores to check out button selections. I LOVE buttons.



I don't sew anymore, and it's a shame that these treasures are languishing in boxes when they could be used and enjoyed.



I'll be adding some more beads and buttons in the days to come. If you are a sewer, or knitter, why not check them out?


copyright 2010 Shibori Girl

Monday, February 08, 2010

Studio Lights Are Burning

My studio lights have been burning far into the wee hours each and every day recently.


polymer clay focal bead with encased crystal beaded beads

I've found my creative wave, and have been hangin' ten ever since. Add to that, I've been hippity-hopping my way through Blogland for a couple of weeks, and you'll understand my slowness to post. There are now 1080 blogs on the One World One Heart roster!

My Etsy shop was gathering cobwebs. I've relisted some items and added new ones. Now the place looks nice and fresh.

Last week I finished and listed more polymer clay pieces. I found a way to use this oddly shaped cane.



As well, there are clay bracelets:



and clay earrings:



all newly listed for sale. Note: The round pair of earrings on the right is part of my giveaway for the OWOH event. There's still time to enter your names for the drawing here.


polymer clay pendant with hand dyed silk ribbon from shibori girl studios



This week, I'm working on some new beaded bead necklaces. I should have them listed by tomorrow.



Looks like I'll be ordering some more shibori ribbons from Glennis at Shibori Girl Studios soon... Happy shopping.


copyright 2010 Shibori Girl